All the mothers in my life share with me so many treasures, I will not describe their strength well, but here is a try. My friend Kelly will soon be a mama in July. Her friendship has been a lifeline through this past month and several years as some friends are lost in the shuffle of life. I am excited to see her new baby girl and new step for her. So Kelly, Happy Mother’s Day!
My friend Erin is raising a beautiful son, despite the loss of her husband while pregnant, finishing undergraduate and graduate school, and the daily juggling of her life’s passion (social work) and motherhood. I am so proud of her that I cannot express the surge in my chest when I tell people I know her. So Erin, Happy Mother’s Day!Watching my mate’s family raise wonderful children who connect to their culture(s), I hope to have Tagalog-speaking, intelligent, community-supportive children like them. So to Chesca, Peggy, Charissa, Karen, Chari, Anne, Raff, and Viola...Happy Mother’s Day!
My sister Ana found her children, who also needed to find her. While motherhood tests her will, faith, and overall sanity, she is raising two fantastic young men. When I see how much they have adjusted and grown with her, I am proud to know her as my sister. We are all excited to have nephews as great and adventurous as them in our family. So Ana, Happy Mother’s Day!My grandmother is an amazing individual who raised four children, has 22 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Every time I write or visit her, I am in awe at her strength and presence in our lives. So Grandma, Happy Mother’s Day!
My mate and I share a common bond of being in a large family. Ironically, both our mothers had several children in a short amount of time (his mother: 9 kids in 11 years; my mother 7 kids in 9 years), had us about the same time (around 30 years old), and placed us in the middle. I work with large numbers of students at once—children who need your every attention, emotion, and praise you can give them—and I respect these two women for raising 16 strong, healthy, intelligent, beautiful children without giving up (which I am sure they thought of at certain times). Even today, we call for advice and nurturing because we know they never let us flounder…just grow. 
I was supposed to be a mother today, but lost my child earlier this week. While the tears still fall from disappointment, the strength these women gave me (and all the women who gave me guidance through this difficult moment in my life) makes me excited that I am a woman and will be a mother in the future. Happy Mother’s Day!
